An unprecedented leading role for Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin against Real Madrid on Wednesday. With a 3-2 lead, the Portuguese needed one more goal to reach the intermediate round. Deep into injury time, the Ukrainian went forward and caused complete relief and disbelief with a striking header: 4-2. Real Madrid will also enter the intermediate round and may meet, yes, Benfica.
Benfica had to win to have a chance of advancing to the intermediate round, so Kylian Mbappé’s opening goal came after half an hour at a particularly inopportune time. The Frenchman headed home at the second post via Trubin: 0-1.
Benfica managed to equalize beautifully from a lightning-fast counter-attack. Vangelis Pavlidis had the opportunity to give in due to Raúl Asencio’s slip and he did so perfectly, on the head of Andreas Schjelderup: 1-1.
It was a small miracle that Benfica did not take the lead moments later. Leandro Barreiro had a free headed opportunity at the far post, which he pushed wide of the goal of the beaten Thibaut Courtois.
The lead for the Portuguese would come a little later. Aurélien Tchouaméni hung a little too emphatically on Nicolás Otamendi, who saw the subsequent penalty used by ex-AZ player Pavlidis: 2-1.
After the break, Real Madrid got another blow. Schjelderup received the ball on the left side of the field and had plenty of time to cut inside. The attacker then shot a hidden shot into the short corner: 3-1.
Real Madrid did not just leave it at that and quickly came up with an answer. With a wonderful feint, Arda Güler sent two Portuguese into the forest, before producing a low cross. Mbappé shot in impeccably and immediately thanked his Turkish teammate: 3-2.
Real Madrid had to get a result to skip the intermediate round and Benfica also needed one more goal, and it came. Trubin, who came along, headed home from a free kick and caused a total explosion in Lisbon: 4-2.
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